He had been in a deep sleep. However, he was jolted awake by the sounds of the local oldies radio station. He opened his eyes and realized he wasn’t facing his clock radio as he usually was. He frowned, then yawned.

Larry rolled over to face the offending alarm clock. He glared at it, hazel eyes narrowing to slits. He sat up, leaving the radio playing. He ran a hand through his curls, then scratched at a couple places. He was definitely not a morning person. He sighed and realized he could hear Balki singing softly out in either the living room or kitchen.

Larry tossed back the blankets and swung his legs over the side. He stood and stretched… then winced as his lower back complained about the movement. He sighed. It was going to be one of those days.

———

Balki sang softly in Myposian as he worked on making breakfast and setting the table. He heard Larry’s radio come on and knew his cousin would be out soon. He started the coffee upon hearing the radio. It would be ready when Larry emerged from his room.

Balki swapped to whistling and made the batter for the pancakes. As he stirred, he heard a thump, then a muffled voice. He couldn’t make out what was said, though he was pretty sure he shouldn’t repeat it nor tell Larry he heard him curse.

Larry shuffled out of his room, rubbing his head. He immediately went into the bathroom and closed the door.

Balki paused, listening. He heard the shower start and sighed. He knew Larry was in a bad mood, otherwise he would have at least come for a cup of coffee before heading for the shower.

Balki had learned that Larry was very much a creature of habit. They had only known each other for a few months now, yet Balki knew the little nuances of Larry’s moods.

First, he knew Larry was not a morning person and was only slightly better after coffee. Larry had once said that coffee helped him think… or what you call it when you make up things in your mind. He hadn’t had any coffee yet when he attempted to explain that.

Balki also knew he would be in a bad mood if his back was hurting which it had been doing on and off since they had met. Larry had never told him how his back had been hurt originally. Balki wanted to ask, but couldn’t figure out the best time to do it.

The shower had shut off while Balki’s thoughts had meandered. Larry came out in his robe, his curls slightly dripping. He immediately went to retrieve his mug and poured a cup. He took a long drink just standing there, then topped off again.

Finally, Larry looked at Balki, a slightly pained expression on his face. “Morning, Balki.”

“Cousin Larry, are you having a bad morning?” Balki asked, figuring he might as well get right to the point.

Larry sighed. “Sort of. I was trying to get something out of my closet and stood too quickly and knocked my head on the shelf. I was seeing stars so I went right to the shower.”

“Oh was it the big dipper?” Balki asked.

Larry looked at him for a very long moment. His mind wouldn’t wrap around what he had said to make Balki say that. He shook his head. “What’s for breakfast?”

“Myposian pancakes,” Balki announced, grinning.

Larry groaned. “Please don’t tell me what’s in them.”

Balki just grinned.

Larry sighed. It was going to be a long day.

———

Ritz Discount had been open for a few hours though it’s owner, Donald Twinkacetti—or Twinkie—had yet to make an appearance. Balki had been able to get several small jobs done. Larry was due in soon as he would stay on a few extra hours to close up.

Balki looked at the club clock. Larry was late, which was unusual. He was generally early for, well, everything. Finally, the door opened and Larry trudged in. He was half bent over and holding his lower back. “Cousin Larry!” Balki exclaimed and rushed over to him.

“Don’t touch me!” Larry hissed through clenched teeth. He made it to the counter then looked up.

Balki’s eyes widened. “Cousin, why you have a black eye?!”

“Fight over a parking spot. Apparently I stole a guy’s spot. He punched me… repeatedly,” Larry said. “I need to sit…” He started to slump where he stood against the counter.

Balki rushed him over to the older barber’s chair and sat Larry down. “You sit here and let Balki take care of things.”

Larry frowned. He hated being babied like this, but he supposed he hadn’t much choice. He was feeling rather lightheaded after all.

Balki reappeared with an ice pack. “And I found…” He pulled out a small bottle of ibuprofen from his pocket, plus a water bottle he had tucked under his arm.

Larry sighed in relief. “Thank you, Balki.” He took the ibuprofen and washed them down with the water, then he put the ice pack to his eye. He hissed slightly, then sighed again as the cool relieved the sting around his eye. “Why do these things always happen to me?” He asked, rhetorically.

“I do’n know, Cousin Larry,” Balki responded. He had an idea Larry wasn’t wanting an answer, but felt he should say something.

“I’m not a bad person. I mean well, even if I might not always go about things as I should…” Larry moaned and leaned his head in his hand, propping up the ice pack.

Balki patted Larry’s shoulder, frowning, then went to the counter. A customer came up with a question.

Larry stopped moaning while the customer was there, but he couldn’t stop the frown. He just plain felt horrible and wished he’d stayed in bed.

———

A short while later, Larry got up and went to his cousin. “Balki, I can take over. You need to get some lunch.”

“But—“ Balki began to argue.

“Balki, please don’t argue. Just go get lunch.”

“Okay, Cousin Larry. I’ll bring back you something,” Balki agreed and offered.

Larry hesitated. He didn’t have much appetite at the moment. “Yeah, okay.”

Balki patted Larry’s shoulder, then headed out.

Larry sighed. At least it was a slow day…

…Or so he had been led to believe. Not five minutes after Balki left did four people come in at nearly the same time.

Larry fielded questions, cashed out purchases, and even carried one purchase out to an elderly woman’s car. He got them all out within a half hour and Balki returned to an empty store.

“No one come?” Balki asked. He set the lunch bags on the counter.

Larry groaned. He was leaning heavily on his arms on the counter. “Four customers all at once.” He sighed and flopped forward on the counter with his head on his arms.

Twinkacetti chose that moment to enter the store. “Appleton, sleep on your own time. Turnip, wake him up.”

“But Mr. Twinkacetti—?” Balki began, at the same time that Larry lifted his head.

Twinkacetti grimaced. “What the hell happened to you, Appleton? Did you make an unwanted pass at a girl?” He grinned, amused at his own joke.

“I’ve had a rough day, Mr. Twinkacetti,” Larry said. He could have attempted to explain, but he felt so weary that he just didn’t want to.

Twinkacetti sneered. “You don’t think I care, do you?” He laughed and made his way to his office, laughing while he walked the length of the store.

Larry looked utterly beaten.

“Cousin Larry, go home. I can stay until stores closes. Please go home and get rest,” Balki urged. He gently nudged his cousin.

“Okay…” Larry agreed, softly. He shuffled out the door of the as Balki shook his head.

Balki turned and looked towards Twinkacetti’s office. He wanted so badly to tell the man in most uncertain terms what he thought of him right now… but doing so could affect their jobs and Balki didn’t want to bring home bad news.

———

Larry had opted to take the stairs to the apartment. He didn’t want to risk getting trapped in the elevator with the way his day was going. He put the key in the lock and turned the knob. He turned on the lights, then locked the door behind him.

He started shuffling towards his room, but paused and looked around. Something seemed amiss, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Larry started to his room again, but stopped outside the door. He didn’t remember closing his door that morning. He was sure he’d left it open.

Larry stepped back, then noticed a window was open. His eyes widened like saucers and his eyebrows lifted high. He almost gasped, but clamped a hand over his mouth. He froze like that, unsure what to do. Should he leave and risk being robbed or should he try to stop the robber and—

The bedroom door open and the intruder came out. The man was slightly taller than Larry and more heavy set. He glared at Larry. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I live here!” Larry exclaimed. “What are you doing here?!”

“Right now, I work here,” the intruder smirked. “Why don’t you have a seat on the couch while I finish my job and you won’t get hurt?” He went back to the bedroom.

Larry didn’t move. Something deep down inside him snapped at that moment. He’d had enough. He advanced on the intruder, eyes blazing.

Larry flung himself at the intruder’s back, grabbing him around the waist. The robber yelped and fell forward to the floor, with Larry still holding on. The robber’s face hit the floor, breaking his nose. He groaned as Larry shifted to sit on the man’s lower back.

Forgetting his own back pain, Larry reached for the phone on his nightstand and called 9-1-1, then he called down to the store. He explained to Balki what happened.

Fortunately, Twinkacetti had left again so Balki closed the store and went up to the apartment. He arrived as the intruder was taken away. Larry had finished with the police and sat on the couch.

“Cousin!” He jumped over the back of the couch and landed beside Larry. “You a hero!”

“Yeah, I guess I am.” Larry sighed. He looked two seconds away from dozing off. “Balki…”

Balki put an arm around him. “Cousin Larry, you beat that bad day off with a stick. Why do’n you nap and I make dinner. How does Ding Ding Machmuud sound?” He grinned.

“I survived today. I think I can handle pig snout with saffron,” Larry replied, smiling faintly.

-End-